澳大利亚专家证据可采性规则研究

在科学技术突飞猛进的时代,随着社会分工的细化和专业化程度的提高,专家证据在诉讼中的作用越来越大。澳大利亚的专家证人制度虽起源于英国,但经过独立后几十年的发展,颇具特色,尤其是在专家证据的可采性方面,已形成了一整套相当具体、完备的规则,如专门知识规则、专家性规则、普通知识规则、基本规则和终局性问题规则等。为了克服专家证据带有偏向性和专家证人被滥用的弊端,澳大利亚在当前的司法改革中提出了不少相应的对策,这为我国亟待改革的司法鉴定制度提供了一些有益的借鉴。

Study on the Admissibility of Expert Evidence in Australia

Modern science and technology have made the division of labor highly sophisticated.Evidence from experts in their specific fields,as a result,has a more important role to play in criminal proceedings.Though the system of expert witness in Australia originated from England and Wales,it has its own characteristics after several decades of development since Australia gained its independence.The rules of admissibility for expert evidence,in particular,are rather concrete and perfect,on such areas as special knowledge,expertise,common knowledge,basic rule and the rule of ultimate issue.In order to overcome injustice that might be caused by expert evidence and the misuse of expert witnesses,Australia has implemented some counter measures in recent years.This may provide some valuable experiences for reforming the system of judicial forensic science in China.